A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has identified significant variations in the risk of pregnancy-related high blood pressure among different Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations. The research, which analyzed health records from California, found that individuals within certain subgroups, such as Pacific Islanders and Filipinos, faced a two to three times higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared to Chinese individuals, even after adjusting for various sociodemographic and maternal-health factors.
Research Findings
The study highlighted notable differences in the frequency and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy across 15 AANHPI subgroups. Key observations included:
- The Chinese subgroup exhibited the lowest observed frequency of pregnancy-related high blood pressure at 3.7%.
- The Guamanian subgroup recorded the highest frequency at 13%.
- After adjusting for sociodemographic and maternal-health factors, Filipino, Hawaiian, Guamanian, Samoan, and other Pacific Islander individuals demonstrated an elevated risk, two to three times higher than the Chinese population.
- Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese individuals generally presented with risks that were comparable to or not elevated when compared to the Chinese reference group.
Study Context and Impact
Pregnancy-related high blood pressure encompasses conditions such as chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia, and chronic hypertension with preeclampsia. These conditions are a leading cause of maternal illness and death, affecting approximately one in seven pregnancies in the United States and increasing the risk of serious complications like heart attack and stroke for pregnant individuals.
The findings suggest a need for tailored prevention and treatment approaches to address varying risks within these diverse populations. Jennifer Soh, the study's lead author, stated that the results can assist healthcare professionals in identifying individuals at higher risk, facilitating early identification and treatment to prevent serious complications for both pregnant individuals and their infants. Previous research has often studied AANHPI subgroups collectively, which limited detailed insights into specific risk variations.
Methodology
The research involved an analysis of 772,688 records from pregnant individuals in California who identified as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. Data was collected from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information for the period between 2007 and 2019. Researchers reviewed birth and death certificates linked to maternal hospital discharge records, examining the risks of five specific hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on January 14, 2026.
Limitations
The study acknowledged several limitations. These include its reliance on medical diagnostic codes, which may lead to potential underreporting or misclassification of conditions. The data was specific to individuals in California, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other regions. Furthermore, the study period concluded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning its potential effects were not accounted for. The research also did not consider other potential factors that might influence blood pressure during pregnancy, such as air pollution, neighborhood walkability, or food access.